Bacterial Community of Heermann’s Gull (<i>Larus heermanni</i>): Insights into Their Most Common Species and Their Functional Role during the Breeding Season in the Gulf of California
The seabird intestinal microbiota, or bacteriome, predominantly consists of bacteria that establish during embryonic development through vertical transfer from females and horizontal transfer during growth and copulation. This study focuses on the Heermann’s Gull (<i>Larus heermanni</i>)...
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2024-10-01
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| author | Enrico A. Ruiz Araceli Contreras-Rodríguez Oliva Araiza Ma G. Aguilera-Arreola Juan A. Hernández-García José J. Flores-Martínez Víctor Sánchez-Cordero Zulema Gomez-Lunar |
| author_facet | Enrico A. Ruiz Araceli Contreras-Rodríguez Oliva Araiza Ma G. Aguilera-Arreola Juan A. Hernández-García José J. Flores-Martínez Víctor Sánchez-Cordero Zulema Gomez-Lunar |
| author_sort | Enrico A. Ruiz |
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| description | The seabird intestinal microbiota, or bacteriome, predominantly consists of bacteria that establish during embryonic development through vertical transfer from females and horizontal transfer during growth and copulation. This study focuses on the Heermann’s Gull (<i>Larus heermanni</i>), a seabird that breeds mainly within the Gulf of California. Our goal was to understand its gut bacteriome composition and its implications for conservation and public health. Using microbiological techniques, <i>16S rRNA</i> gene sequencing, and mass spectrometry, we characterized the HG gut bacteriome and compared it with other bird species. Our findings reveal a diverse bacteriome, particularly in the intestine and rectum, with dominant phyla including Firmicutes, Proteobacteria, Bacteroidetes, Cyanobacteria, and Fusobacteria. Seasonal and sex-related differences were observed, with significant correlations between some pairs of bacteria. Notably, we identified various pathogens and potential zoonotic bacteria, underscoring the public health risks associated with Heermann’s Gull interaction with humans and other animals. These results highlight the importance of the Heermann’s Gull gut bacteriome in nutrient production, pathogen control, and digestive health, and emphasize the need for further research on pathogen transmission involving seabirds. Our study provides crucial insights for conservation strategies and underscores the role of wild birds in the epidemiology of zoonotic diseases. |
| format | Article |
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| issn | 1424-2818 |
| language | English |
| publishDate | 2024-10-01 |
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| spelling | doaj-art-651fecb03e5549cb8df77e2adb6fa4272025-08-20T02:11:05ZengMDPI AGDiversity1424-28182024-10-01161061710.3390/d16100617Bacterial Community of Heermann’s Gull (<i>Larus heermanni</i>): Insights into Their Most Common Species and Their Functional Role during the Breeding Season in the Gulf of CaliforniaEnrico A. Ruiz0Araceli Contreras-Rodríguez1Oliva Araiza2Ma G. Aguilera-Arreola3Juan A. Hernández-García4José J. Flores-Martínez5Víctor Sánchez-Cordero6Zulema Gomez-Lunar7Departamento de Zoología, Escuela Nacional de Ciencias Biológicas, Instituto Politécnico Nacional, Prolongación de Carpio y Plan de Ayala s/n, Col. Santo Tomás, Ciudad de México 11340, MexicoDepartamento de Microbiología, Escuela Nacional de Ciencias Biológicas, Instituto Politécnico Nacional, Prolongación de Carpio y Plan de Ayala s/n, Col. Santo Tomás, Ciudad de México 11340, MexicoDepartamento de Microbiología, Escuela Nacional de Ciencias Biológicas, Instituto Politécnico Nacional, Prolongación de Carpio y Plan de Ayala s/n, Col. Santo Tomás, Ciudad de México 11340, MexicoDepartamento de Microbiología, Escuela Nacional de Ciencias Biológicas, Instituto Politécnico Nacional, Prolongación de Carpio y Plan de Ayala s/n, Col. Santo Tomás, Ciudad de México 11340, MexicoDepartamento de Microbiología, Escuela Nacional de Ciencias Biológicas, Instituto Politécnico Nacional, Prolongación de Carpio y Plan de Ayala s/n, Col. Santo Tomás, Ciudad de México 11340, MexicoLaboratorio de Sistemas de Información Geográfica, Instituto de Biología, Universidad Nacional Autónoma de México, Cto. Zona Deportiva S/N, C.U., Ciudad de Mexico 04510, MexicoLaboratorio de Sistemas de Información Geográfica, Instituto de Biología, Universidad Nacional Autónoma de México, Cto. Zona Deportiva S/N, C.U., Ciudad de Mexico 04510, MexicoDepartamento de Microbiología, Escuela Nacional de Ciencias Biológicas, Instituto Politécnico Nacional, Prolongación de Carpio y Plan de Ayala s/n, Col. Santo Tomás, Ciudad de México 11340, MexicoThe seabird intestinal microbiota, or bacteriome, predominantly consists of bacteria that establish during embryonic development through vertical transfer from females and horizontal transfer during growth and copulation. This study focuses on the Heermann’s Gull (<i>Larus heermanni</i>), a seabird that breeds mainly within the Gulf of California. Our goal was to understand its gut bacteriome composition and its implications for conservation and public health. Using microbiological techniques, <i>16S rRNA</i> gene sequencing, and mass spectrometry, we characterized the HG gut bacteriome and compared it with other bird species. Our findings reveal a diverse bacteriome, particularly in the intestine and rectum, with dominant phyla including Firmicutes, Proteobacteria, Bacteroidetes, Cyanobacteria, and Fusobacteria. Seasonal and sex-related differences were observed, with significant correlations between some pairs of bacteria. Notably, we identified various pathogens and potential zoonotic bacteria, underscoring the public health risks associated with Heermann’s Gull interaction with humans and other animals. These results highlight the importance of the Heermann’s Gull gut bacteriome in nutrient production, pathogen control, and digestive health, and emphasize the need for further research on pathogen transmission involving seabirds. Our study provides crucial insights for conservation strategies and underscores the role of wild birds in the epidemiology of zoonotic diseases.https://www.mdpi.com/1424-2818/16/10/617seabird microbiotabacteriome diversity16S rRNA gene sequencingzoonotic pathogensconservation biology |
| spellingShingle | Enrico A. Ruiz Araceli Contreras-Rodríguez Oliva Araiza Ma G. Aguilera-Arreola Juan A. Hernández-García José J. Flores-Martínez Víctor Sánchez-Cordero Zulema Gomez-Lunar Bacterial Community of Heermann’s Gull (<i>Larus heermanni</i>): Insights into Their Most Common Species and Their Functional Role during the Breeding Season in the Gulf of California Diversity seabird microbiota bacteriome diversity 16S rRNA gene sequencing zoonotic pathogens conservation biology |
| title | Bacterial Community of Heermann’s Gull (<i>Larus heermanni</i>): Insights into Their Most Common Species and Their Functional Role during the Breeding Season in the Gulf of California |
| title_full | Bacterial Community of Heermann’s Gull (<i>Larus heermanni</i>): Insights into Their Most Common Species and Their Functional Role during the Breeding Season in the Gulf of California |
| title_fullStr | Bacterial Community of Heermann’s Gull (<i>Larus heermanni</i>): Insights into Their Most Common Species and Their Functional Role during the Breeding Season in the Gulf of California |
| title_full_unstemmed | Bacterial Community of Heermann’s Gull (<i>Larus heermanni</i>): Insights into Their Most Common Species and Their Functional Role during the Breeding Season in the Gulf of California |
| title_short | Bacterial Community of Heermann’s Gull (<i>Larus heermanni</i>): Insights into Their Most Common Species and Their Functional Role during the Breeding Season in the Gulf of California |
| title_sort | bacterial community of heermann s gull i larus heermanni i insights into their most common species and their functional role during the breeding season in the gulf of california |
| topic | seabird microbiota bacteriome diversity 16S rRNA gene sequencing zoonotic pathogens conservation biology |
| url | https://www.mdpi.com/1424-2818/16/10/617 |
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